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Job Category:

University Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Payroll and Benefits Spec

Job Summary:

This position reports to the Payroll & Benefits Associate Director in the School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) and is independently responsible for performing a wide variety of activities in Workday. These responsibilities include payroll, leave accounting, and benefits. This position works with departmental supervisors and managers on payroll and benefits matters for Faculty, Academic Staff, and Limited appointments (FAASLI), Temporary Employees (TE), unclassified Student assistants (RAs, TAs, PAs), and student hourly appointments. This position is a member of the SMPH Human Resources team and by its nature, the candidate is aware of confidential records and conversations that directly affect the employer-employee relationship. 

• ​This position is full-time, 100% 
• ​This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location. 
• ​Typical business hours are Monday through Friday 7:45a.m.- 4:30p.m.

​​Candidates who demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities will be given first consideration: 

• ​a proven ability to work independently by overseeing multiple projects simultaneously with tight deadlines, 
• ​strict attention to detail with excellent time management and organizational skills, 
• ​strong communication skills, 
• ​strong problem-solving skills, and 
• ​critical and conceptual thinking skills.​ 

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Prepares, organizes, disseminates, and processes payroll and benefit resources, communications, and materials for one or more work units through various mediums under general supervision

• Contributes to the development, implementation, interpretation, and revision of work unit Human Resources policies and procedures according to institutional and legal rules and regulations

• Represents unit/program at payroll workshops, informational meetings, and training sessions

• Assists employees with the completion of benefit enrollments, changes, and maintenance of employee records according to established policies and procedures

• Prepares and audits standard work unit payrolls, and completes payroll transactions and changes adhering to established policies and procedures to meet anticipated deadlines

• Counsels new, existing, and terminating employees on payroll and benefit options, timelines, taxes, and deductions

• Receives, responds to, and resolves employee payroll and benefit questions and problems

Department:

School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Administration – Human Resources

SMPH Human Resources is dedicated to fostering a supportive workplace for our faculty, staff and students. Our multifaceted team comprises experts in Employee Relations, HIPAA Privacy, HR Services and Talent Management, each committed to enhancing the employee experience through proactive support and strategic initiatives. Together, we strive to empower our community, uphold the highest standards of professionalism, and drive the success of the School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH).

Compensation:

• The starting hourly wage for the position is $26.00 per hour; but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.  

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. For more information, refer to the campus benefits webpage and the SMPH University Staff Benefits Flyer 2026.

Required Qualifications:

• ​Strong skills in word processing, email communication, and spreadsheets are essential in providing excellent customer service to employees and meeting strict payroll deadlines.​ 

Preferred Qualifications:

• ​At least one year of payroll processing and/or benefits administration experience. Internship and student experience will be considered.  
• ​Experience and ability to interpret UW System policies and procedures. 
• ​Experience and ability to produce and utilize reports using Workday software. ​ 

Education:

• H.S. Diploma preferred

How to Apply:

For the best experience completing your application, we recommend using Chrome or Firefox as your web browser.

To apply for this position, select either “I am a current employee” or “I am not a current employee” under Apply Now. You will then be prompted to upload your application materials.

Important: The application has only one attachment field. Upload the following documents in that field, either as a single combined file or as multiple files in the same upload area.

• Cover letter (required)
• Resume (required)

Your cover letter should address how your training and experience align with the required and preferred qualifications listed above. Application reviewers will rely on these written materials to determine which applicants move forward in the process. References will be requested from final candidates. All applicants will be notified once the search concludes and a candidate is selected 

University sponsorship is not available for this position, including transfers of sponsorship and TN visas. The selected applicant will be responsible for ensuring their continuous eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. This position is an ongoing position that will require continuous work eligibility. If you are selected for this position you must provide proof of work authorization and eligibility to work.  

The department will not be able to support a request for a J-1 waiver. If you choose to pursue a waiver and apply for our position, neither the UW nor UWMF will reimburse you for your legal or waiver fees. 

Contact Information:

Aisha Liebenow, liebenow@wisc.edu 

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.  

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. 
 
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). 
 
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.